What Happens When You Lose Your Passport in a Foreign Country?

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The loss of a passport can undoubtedly create a hassle while travelling abroad for business or spending a holiday with family. This report will be essential for your next steps. Then, contact your country's embassy or consulate for assistance. 

So, if you have lost your passport abroad, read this article to find solutions for safely returning to your home country. It is also important to keep copies of important documents and have emergency contacts available.

Losing a passport can be a stressful and challenging experience, especially when you're travelling abroad. Consider doing five following things if you lose your passport while travelling overseas:

1. File a Complaint at Your Nearest Police Station

Make sure to file a complaint at the nearest police station in case of a stolen or lost passport. Collect a copy of the police report as it serves as documentary proof for the lost passport. It is an essential document when applying for an emergency certificate or a new passport.

2. Get in Touch With Your Country's Embassy

Contact your country's embassy to report the loss of your passport. Embassies located abroad help citizens by issuing an emergency certificate to return to their country after verifying their nationality safely.

3. Apply for a Re-issuance of Visa

In case you have lost your passport, you also need to apply for the lost visas. Visit your country's embassy and submit relevant documents such as a photocopy of the old visa and police report to get a new one.

4. Reschedule the Flight

It is not possible to return to your country if you have lost your passport, and it will take time for your application request for a new passport or emergency certificate to process. Hence, it is ideal to inform the airline about your situation and reschedule it accordingly. The sooner you contact the airlines, the less the chances of spending substantial money in rescheduling it.

5. Apply for a New Passport/Emergency Certificate

After contacting your residential country's embassy, apply for a new passport or emergency certificate based on your requirement. In the case of the former, you need to wait for a week to obtain a new passport. However, if you cannot wait for a week and need to return to the country immediately for emergencies like severe illness or the death of a family member, apply for an emergency certificate (discussed later).

Once you know what to do when your passport is lost, continue reading to know how to apply for a new passport and emergency certificate.

Duplicate passports are not issued in case you have lost a passport. Therefore, apply for a re-issuance of a new passport by following the simple steps mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of Passport Seva Kendra. Register yourself to the online portal of Passport Seva by entering the relevant details such as passport office, name, date of birth etc. If you are an existing member, click on "Existing  User Login" to sign in with your login ID.

Step 2: Select "Apply for Fresh Passport/Re-issue of Passport '' and fill in the relevant details such as name, contact details etc. and submit.

Step 3: Select the "Pay and Schedule Appointment" link available under the "View Saved/Submitted Applications" option to book an appointment slot at your nearest passport office.

Step 4: Proceed with the online payment using the following payment modes – 

• Internet banking (Associate banks of State Bank of India or any other banks)
  
• Debit or credit cards  (MasterCard or Visa)
• Bank Challan of SBI

Note: Online payments are mandatory to schedule an appointment at your nearest Passport Seva Kendra or Passport Office or Post Office Passport Seva Kendra.

Step 5: Choose the "Print Application Receipt" link to print the application receipt and complete the application procedure after the loss of passport. 

This receipt contains the Application Reference Number. It is not mandatory to carry this receipt while visiting the Passport Office. The appointment details through an SMS will be sent to your registered mobile number and is sufficient to serve as proof of appointment at the scheduled date.

To apply for a new passport offline, download the e-Form to apply for a re-issue of passport offline, available on the official website under the "Download e-Form tab". Click on the link under "Fresh or Re-issue of Passport'' and fill it out offline with relevant details such as application type, applicant's name, date of birth, etc. Upload this duly filled form online. The Passport Seva Kendra or Regional Passport Office will not accept printed copies of the form. To apply for the re-issuance of a new passport offline, follow these steps:

Step 1: Obtain the Application Form

Visit the nearest Passport Seva Kendra (PSK), Passport Office, or designated post office to obtain the application form. Alternatively, you can download the form from the official Passport Seva website and print it.

Step 2: Fill Out the Application Form

Carefully fill out the application form with accurate details. Ensure all mandatory fields are completed.

Step 3: Gather Required Documents

Prepare the following documents:

•  The old passport is in its original form with a self-attested photocopy of the first two and last two pages, including the ECR/Non-ECR page and the observation page (if any).

•  Proof of present address (e.g., Aadhaar card, Voter ID, utility bills, etc.).

• Proof of date of birth (if not available in the old passport).

• Any other documents required based on the reason for re-issuance (e.g., change in appearance, change in signature, or other personal details).

Step 4: Submit the Application Form

Visit the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) or Regional Passport Office (RPO) where you obtained the application form. Submit the filled application form along with the required documents.

Step 5: Pay the Application Fee

Pay the applicable fee at the PSK or RPO counter. You will receive a receipt for the payment, which you should keep safely.

Step 6: Schedule an Appointment (if applicable)

Schedule an appointment for document verification and biometrics at the PSK or RPO if required. This may vary based on the location and the passport office's process.

Step 7: Attend the Appointment

Attend the appointment at the scheduled date and time. Bring the application receipt, original documents, and any other required items. Your documents will be verified, and biometric data (photographs and fingerprints) will be captured.

Step 8: Police Verification (if required)

In some cases, police verification may be required. The passport office will forward your application to the local police station for verification.

Step 9: Track Application Status

After submission, you can track the status of your application on the official Passport Seva website using the application reference number or by contacting the PSK/RPO.

Step 10: Receive the New Passport

1. Once your application is processed and approved, the new passport will be dispatched to your address via registered post.

2. Ensure someone is available to receive the passport at the delivery address.

By following these steps, you can successfully apply for the offline re-issuance of a new passport.

Based on the type of application, applicant category, employment type and other criteria, submit the following document for passport re-issuance in case you have lost your passport:

• Date of birth proof such as birth certificate, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Affidavit mentioning how the passport got lost according to Annexure F
• Original police report
• Document proof of present residential address such as utility bills such as water bill, telephone bill, Aadhaar card, etc.
• Self-attested copy of first and last two pages, including the Non-ECR/ECR page of the old passport
• No Objection certificate according to Annexure G or prior intimation letter as per the Annexure H
• Documentary proof for the Non-ECR category of applicants such as birth certificate, higher educational pass certificate etc.
• Pension payment order
• In the case of minor applicants, parents can bring their original and self-attested photocopies of passports to the PSK. Parents can attest to the documents in case the applicant is a minor. Besides, they can also submit the address proof in their name.
• Two recent passport size photographs of the applicant

Note: Applicants must submit the original and self-attested photocopies of the documents mentioned above at the PSK. Besides, all documents mentioned above are indicative. Check the home page of the jurisdictional passport office available under the Passport Office Page to know if any additional documents are necessary to submit.

As stated earlier, applying for a new certificate can take some time and staying in a foreign country for that long may increase troubles. In such cases, you can apply for an emergency certificate. The following section discusses the basics of the emergency certificate and its application process. Read along!

An emergency certificate is a one-way travel document that allows you to return to the residential country if your passport is lost. It is issued after the High Commission verifies your nationality and other credentials.

An emergency certificate is issued in the following situations:

• When the passport is lost or misplaced
• Passport is damaged or stolen
• Individuals who have been refused to receive a new passport
• Expiry of the validity of a passport for a long period
• Individuals under orders of deportation

Individuals can apply for an emergency certificate by visiting the respective embassy in person and may need to undergo personal interview procedures to get this certificate. Alternatively, they can apply for this online by visiting the official portal of Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates.

Here are a few simple steps mentioned below to apply for an emergency certificate in case of loss or stolen passport:

Step 1: Visit the official portal of Passport Seva at Indian Embassies and Consulates. Select a country from where you want to apply for passport services. 

Now, register yourself to the portal by selecting the "Register" link. Enter relevant details of the embassy or consulate, your name, date of birth etc. Alternatively, if you have already registered, log in with the credentials.

Step 2: Make the necessary selection for your Emergency Certificate on the home page. Fill in the online application form and submit it.

Step 3: Take a printout of the submitted application form and visit the embassy with relevant documents. To access the list of Application Submission Centre or Embassies available in the country you have visited, select the link "Embassy/Consulate Connect".

Remember, you may need to provide processing fees to get an emergency certificate. Further, documentation requirements differ with each country to where to apply for. Hence check the official portal before approaching the Indian consulate to apply for this certificate.

Loss of a passport is an unforeseen circumstance and can create inconvenience while travelling. However, keep these above-mentioned pointers in mind if you come across such situations to avoid hassles easily.

Replacement passports cost the same as any other passport. If you cannot pay for a new passport, you can give the consular staff the names of people who might help. 

If you have been a serious crime or disaster victim and cannot afford a new passport, you may be eligible for a free limited-validity emergency passport. If you want a full-validity passport, the regular fee applies for replacements.

Losing a passport is an unforeseen circumstance that can create inconvenience while travelling. However, remember these pointers to avoid hassles if you encounter such situations.